Information recording transport with tape tension equalization between distinct capstans

Abstract

An information recording tape transport comprises equipment for selectively winding and unwinding information recording tape, two distinct and spaced tape drive capstans, separate transducing equipment associated with each tape drive capstan, and at least three distinct tension equalizing means located, respectively, between the two capstans, to one side of one of the capstans and to one side of the other of the capstans.

I claim: 
     
       1. An information recording tape transport comprising in combination: first winding means for selectively winding and unwinding information recording tape;   second winding spaced from said first winding means for selectively winding and unwinding information recording tape;   first driving means including a first tape drive capstan for driving information recording tape between said first and second winding means;   second driving means distinct from said first driving means and including a second tape drive capstan for driving information recording tape between said first and second winding means;   first transducer means located adjacent said first tape drive capstan for transducing information relative to information recording tape;   second transducer means located adjacent said second tape drive capstan for transducing information relative to information recording tape; and   means for applying recording tape to said first and second transducer means at controlled tension, comprising:   first tension equalizing means between said first winding means and said first tape drive capstan;   second tension equalizing means between said second winding means and said second tape drive capstan; and   third tension equalizing means between said first and second tape drive capstans.   
     
     
       2. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first tension equalizing means include means for controlling said first winding means;   said second tension equalizing means include means for controlling said second winding means; and   said third tension equalizing means include means for controlling either of said first and second driving means.   
     
     
       3. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first tension equalizing means include means for forming a first tape loop and first sensing means for sensing a predetermined quality of said first tape loop;   said second tension equalizing means include means for forming a second tape loop and second sensing means for sensing a predetermined quality of said second tape loop;   said third tension equalizing means include means for forming a third tape loop and third sensing means for sensing a predetermined quality of said third tape loop;   said first winding means include means connected to said first sensing means for controlling said first tape loop;   said second winding means include means connected to said second sensing means for controlling said second tape loop; and   said first and second driving means include means connected to said third sensing means for controlling said third tape loop.   
     
     
       4. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said first, second and third tension equalizing means include means for maintaining tape tension at said first and second transducer means essentially constant.   
     
     
       5. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first, second and third tension equalizing means include means for maintaining tape tension at said first and second transducer means essentially constant.   
     
     
       6. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 1, including: means operatively associated with said first, second and third tension equalizing means for jointly energizing said first, second and third tension equalizing means.   
     
     
       7. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 6, including: means operatively associated with said first tension equalizing means and said joint energizing means for isolating the equalizing function of said first tension equalizing means from the equalizing function of said second and third tension equalizing means;   means operatively associated with said second tension equalizing means and said joint energizing means for isolating the equalizing function of said second tension equalizing means from the equalizing function of said first and third tension equalizing means; and   means operatively associated with said third tension equalizing means and said joint energizing means for isolating the equalizing function of said third tension equalizing means from the equalizing function of said first and second tension equalizing means.   
     
     
       8. An information recording tape transport comprising in combination: first winding means for selectively winding and unwinding information recording tape;   second winding means for selectively winding and unwinding information recording tape;   first driving means including a first tape drive capstan for driving information recording tape between said first and second winding means;   second driving means including a second tape drive capstan for driving information recording tape between said first and second winding means;   first transducer means located adjacent said first tape drive capstan for transducing information relative to information recording tape;   second transducer means located adjacent said second tape drive capstan for transducing information relative to information recording tape;   a first tape pressure differential column between said first winding means and said first tape drive capstan;   a second tape pressure differential column between said second winding means and said second tape drive capstan;   a third tape pressure differential column between said first and second tape drive capstans; and   means for controlling the lengths or recording tape in said first, second and third tape differential columns.   
     
     
       9. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 8, wherein: said means for controlling said lengths of recording tape include:   first sensing means for sensing the length of recording tape in said first column;   second sensing means for sensing the length of recording tape in said second column;   third sensing means for sensing the length of recording tape in said third column;   said first winding means include means connected to said first sensing means for controlling the length of recording tape in said first column;   said second winding means include means connected to said second sensing means for controlling the length of recording tape in said second column; and   said first and second driving means include means connected to said third sensing means for controlling the length of recording tape in said third column.   
     
     
       10. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said first transducer means include recording transducer means;   said second transducer means include reproduce transducer means;   said first driving means include means selectively connectible to said third sensing means for controlling the length of recording tape in said third column during a reproduce mode; and   said second driving means include means selectively connectible to said third sensing means for controlling the length of recording tape in said third column during a recording mode.   
     
     
       11. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 8, including: means connected to said first, second and third columns for jointly moving a gas relative to said first, second and third columns.   
     
     
       12. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 11, including: first equalizing means operatively associated with said first column and said joint gas moving means for equalizing the pressure differential in said first column essentially independently of the pressure differentials in said second and third columns;   second equalizing means operatively associated with said second column and said joint gas moving means for equalizing the pressure differential in said second column essentially independently of the pressure differentials in said first and third columns; and   third equalizing means operatively associated with said third column and said joint gas moving means for equalizing the pressure differential in said third column essentially independently of the pressure differentials in said first and second columns.   
     
     
       13. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said first equalizing means include first restricted cross-section duct means connected between said first column and said joint gas moving means;   said second equalizing means include second restricted cross-section duct means connected between said second column and said joint gas moving means; and   said third equalizing means include third restricted cross-section duct means connected between said third column and said joint gas moving means.   
     
     
       14. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 13, wherein: said first equalizing means include first valve means for selectively admitting a gas toward said first column;   said second equalizing means include second valve means for selectively admitting a gas toward said second column; and   said third equalizing means include third valve means for selectively admitting a gas toward said third column.   
     
     
       15. An information recording tape transport comprising in combination: first winding means for selectively winding and unwinding information recording tape;   second winding means spaced from said first winding means for selectively winding and unwinding information recording tape;   first driving means including a first tape drive capstan for driving information recording tape between said first and second winding means;   second driving means distinct from said first driving means and including a second tape drive capstan for driving information recording tape between said first and second winding means;   first transducer means located adjacent said first tape drive capstan for transducing information relative to information recording tape;   second transducer means located adjacent said second tape drive capstan for transducing information relative to information recording tape; and   means for applying recording tape to said first and second transducer means at controlled tension, comprising:   first means for equalizing tension of information recording tape between said first winding means and said first driving means;   second means for equalizing tension of information recording tape between said second winding means and said second driving means;   third means for equalizing tension of information recording tape between said first and second driving means;   means operatively associated with said first, second and third tension equalizing means for jointly energizing said first, second and third tension equalizing means;   first isolating means operatively associated with said first tension equalizing means and said joint energizing means for isolating the equalizing function of said first tension equalizing means from the equalizing function of said second and third tension equalizing means;   second isolating means operatively associated with said second tension equalizing means and said joint energizing means for isolating the equalizing function of said second tension equalizing means from the equalizing function of said first and third tension equalizing means; and   third isolating means operatively associated with said third tension equalizing means and said joint energizing means for isolating the equalizing function of said third tension equalizing means from the equalizing function of said first and second equalizing means.   
     
     
       16. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said first tension equalizing means include a first tape pressure differential column;   said second tension equalizing means include a second tape pressure differential column;   said third tension equalizing means include a third tape pressure differential column;   said joint energizing means include means for jointly moving a gas relative to said first, second and third tape pressure differential columns; and   said first isolating means include first restricted cross-section duct means connected between said first column and said joint gas moving means;   said second isolating means include second restricted cross-section duct means connected between said second column and said joint gas moving means; and   said third isolating means include third restricted cross-section duct means connected between said third column and said joint gas moving means.   
     
     
       17. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 16, wherein: said first equalizing means include first valve means for selectively admitting a gas toward said first column;   said second equalizing means include second valve means for selectively admitting a gas toward said second column; and   said third equalizing means include third valve means for selectively admitting a gas toward said third column.   
     
     
       18. An information recording tape transport comprising in combination: first winding means for receiving a tape reel for selectively winding and unwinding information recording tape onto and from said tape reel;   second winding means spaced from said first winding means for receiving a tape reel for selectively winding and unwinding information recording tape onto and from said tape reel;   first drive means including a first tape drive capstan for driving information recording tape between said first and second winding means;   second driving means distinct from said first driving means and including a second tape drive capstan for driving information recording tape between said first and second winding means;   first transducer means located adjacent said first tape drive capstan for transducing information relative to information recording tape;   second transducer means located adjacent said second tape drive capstan for transducing information relative to information recording tape; and   means for applying recording tape to said first and second transducer means at controlled tension, comprising:   first tension equalizing means between said first winding means and said first tape drive capstan;   second tension equalizing means between said second winding means and said second tape drive capstan; and   third tension equalizing means between said first and second tape drive capstans.   
     
     
       19. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 18 wherein: said first tension equalizing means include means for controlling said first winding means;   said second tension equalizing means include means for controlling said second winding means; and   said third tension equalizing means include means for controlling either of said first and second driving means.   
     
     
       20. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said first tension equalizing means include means for forming a first tape loop and first sensing means for sensing a predetermined quality of said first tape loop;   said second tension equalizing means include means for forming a second tape loop and second sensing means for sensing a predetermined quality of said second tape loop;   said third tension equalizing means include means for forming a third tape loop and third sensing means for sensing a predetermined quality of said third tape loop;   said first winding means include means connected to said first sensing means for controlling said first tape loop;   said second winding means include means connected to said second sensing means for controlling said second tape loop; and   said first and second driving means include means connected to said third sensing means for controlling said third tape loop.   
     
     
       21. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 19, wherein: said first, second and third tension equalizing means include means for maintaining tape tension at said first and second transducer means essentially constant.   
     
     
       22. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said first, second and third tension equalizing means include means for maintaining tape tension at said first and second transducer means essentially constant.   
     
     
       23. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 18, including: means operatively associated with said first, second and third tension equalizing means for jointly energizing said first, second and third tension equalizing means.   
     
     
       24. An information recording tape transport as claimed in claim 23, including: means operatively associated with said first tension equalizing means and said joint energizing means for isolating the equalizing function of said first tension equalizing means from the equalizing function of said second and third tension equalizing means;   means operatively associated with said second tension equalizing means and said joint energizing means for isolating the equalizing function of said second tension equalizing means from the equalizing function of said first and third tension equalizing means; and   means operatively associated with said third tension equalizing means and said joint energizing means for isolating the equalizing function of said third tension equalizing means from the equalizing function of said first and second tension equalizing means.